Naina woke up early with the shrill ring of alarm.

"Offo, yeh aadhi raat ko kyon alarm laga diya?" Sameer mumbled, turning towards her, resting his hand heavily on her waist.

She quickly switched it off.

"Tum hamesha kaise uthte the... alarm se itne pareshan ho jaate ho." She muttered under her breath.

"Tum saath ho toh kyon uthna hai... bas aise hi mere paas soyi raho." He tightened his arm on her waist, bringing her against himself, nestling in her neck.

She smiled... he did not miss anything... however low her voice was... in fact, he could even hear what was in her mind...

"Uh... Sameer... humein jaana hai na... toh uthne do mujhe... tum thodi der aur so sakte ho." She whispered in his ear.

He opened one eye, "Thodi der se bhi toh jaa sakte hain... raat mein nikalna kyon zaroori hai."

"Raat nahi hai, baba, subah ke paanch baj rahe hain... dekho bahar din nikalne laga hai." She pointed towards the balcony.

"Pata nahi, mujhe toh sirf chaand nazar aa raha hai." He dropped a kiss on her cheek, going back to hide his face in her hair.

Heavy lidded eyes, gruff voice, ruffled hair, warmth from his bare chest seeping into her, brushing of his nose against her neck, the quick kiss... everything was making every cell of her body crave to remain in the cocoon of his embrace... why they had to go anywhere when the best place was here... in his arms.

The sound of movement outside the door made her realise that their friends were up too. She looked back at his face... he hadn't shaved yesterday. The darkness on his jaw had increased enough to raise her heartbeat. She cupped his face, kissing his chin, then brushed her lips against his. His lips curled into a satiated smile.

"Jaane do please, nahi toh late ho jaayenge." She said in a soft low voice.

"Itne se nahi hoga... jaana hai toh thoda aur." He didn't relent.

"Sameer, abhi nahi... Lonavala jaake... pakka." She wriggled, pushing at his hands around her.

"Promise?" He opened his eyes.

She nodded.

"Wahan thode se nahi hoga... woh offer abhi khatam ho gaya... wahan jaake bohot saara... theek hai?" His voice was clearer.

She laughed, "Haan baba, theek hai... jitna bologe."

He squeezed her tight, giving a wide smile, all traces of sleep vanishing from his eyes. With another kiss on her cheek, he rolled to the side, setting her free to go.

All she wanted was to go back to him, hide in his arms, rub her face against his delectable stubble, stay enveloped in his musky scent...

With a sigh, she got up.

Fifteen minutes later, when she came out after her bath, he was sitting up in bed, holding a pillow tightly, lost in thoughts.

"Sameer, jao naha lo... mera ho gaya." She called out.

He placed the pillow back and got up... a sly smile on his face.

"Kya hua?" Naina questioned, seeing him smile.

He shook his head, going to the washroom.

With a knowing wave of her head, she got back to getting ready... whatever he had been thinking will come to her sooner or later... more sooner than later, since it was him.

They were ready in less than half an hour. Naina had packed a change of clothes for them in a small bag, in case they decided to stay for the night.

Sonali was ready as well. They together packed all food items in a basket, along with two big bottles of water.

"Yeh Rahul kahan reh gaya, Sonali?" Sameer asked when they were all set but for Rahul.

"Uska uthna bada hi mushkil hota hai... teen baar utha diya tha... dekh ke aati hun kya kar raha hai." She went to her room, fuming.

"Dekh lo, jab sunte nahi hain subah toh kitne pyaar se uthaya jaata hai." Naina flicked her brows in the direction Sonali went.

Sameer was instantly next to her, placing his hand in the hollow of her back, "Meri jaan, tum ek baar ghar aa jao... jaisa kahogi waisa hi karunga... ekdum joru ka gulaam... tumse door rehne ki baat ke alava koi baat nahi talunga tumhari."

She was about to react when Rahul's voice made them move away.

"Sorry, sorry, uth gaya tha par fir se aankh lag gayi... sorry tum logon ko wait karaya." He was apologetic.

"Arre itna kya sorry bol raha hai... hamari kaunsa train chut rahi hai... dus minute late nikal jaayenge toh kya hua." Sameer patted his back.

"Wohi toh, par pata nahi inn ladkiyon ko kya ghode pe sawar hone ki aadat hai... jaldi karo, jaldi karo ka alarm baja rakha hai subah se." He frowned, then bit his tongue, realising Naina was there too.

"Sorry Naina, tumhe nahi keh raha tha... woh main..." He gave a sheepish look.

"Woh tum kya... meri tareef kar rahe the?" Sonali huffed from the doorway, hands on hips.

Rahul turned sharply, gulping at the sight, "Nahin, nahin jaan, tumhe kahan kuch keh raha tha... main toh inhe bata raha tha ki tum nahi hoti toh hum kahi time pe nahi pohoch paate... haina Sameer, main yehi keh raha tha na?"

He looked at Sameer for saving him.

"Maine toh aisa kuch nahi suna." Sameer pushed his hands in pocket.

Sonali looked back at Rahul, pursing her lips, eyes narrowed.

"Yaar kaisa dost hai tu, marwayega kya... itni achhi jagah jaa rahe hain... rooth gayi toh wahan haath bhi nahi lagane degi." Rahul leaned towards Sameer, whispering.

"Yeh sab kal sochna tha... jab teri wajah se mujhe Naina se do ghante door rehna pada... teri neend ne kal mera romance kharab kiya aaj ussi neend ko tu bhi bhugat." Sameer whispered back.

Rahul glowered at him before going to Sonali, trying to pacify her with an arm around her shoulder.

Naina watched the entire scene with interest, suppressing a laugh.

They left shortly, after Sonali was back in her happy mood.

"Pehle hi bata deta hun, kareeb do ghante lagenge wahan tak... toh masti ka mood banake rakhna jisse mujhe neend na aa jaaye." Rahul instructed after they hit the main road.

Sonali looked at him sharply.

"Mazak kar raha tha, janeman... main kehna chahta tha kahin boriyat na ho jaaye." He gave a bright smile to her.

Her laughter made him breathe out in relief.

They chatted animatedly about what all they would do in Lonavala... and whether they should visit the twin town of Khandala as well.

"Haan,chalte hain na... kitni picturon mein suna hai Khandala ke baare mein... dekhna chahiye aisa kya hai wahan." Naina was excited.

Mostly movies had the mention of Khandala as the place to go and enjoy...Lonavala was hardly heard even though it was the twin hill station.She was looking forward to visit a place she had never thought she could see.

It was after another two years that Amir khan had the same thoughts when he asked Rani Mukherjee to accompany him to the same hill station.

They played antakshri with boys vs girls. Rahul was an extremely bad partner... he couldn't suggest any songs nor did he know any lyrics... Sameer alone had to do everything for their team. Being a singer himself and playing guitar often, music came naturally to him. But the girls together outdid him, being excessively fond of movies and songs.

"Teri wajah se haar gaye... agar thode se gaane bhi aate hote toh jeet jaate hum... dhyaan kahan rehta hai tera jab picture dekhta hai toh?" Sameer reprimanded him.

"Arre yaar, dhyan saara apni biwi pe rehta hai... jab biwi nahi bani thi tab bhi issi pe rehta tha ki kab banegi... aur rahi haarne ki baat... tu aur main toh kabse in dono ke aage haar maan chuke hain." Rahul held his wife's hand, bringing it to his lips to place a soft kiss.

Sameer looked at Naina... for once, satisfied with Rahul's answer.

They had covered more than half the distance when Sonali spotted a cart of coconut water.

"Rahul,wahan rokna... itni der se baithe hain... thoda ruk jaate hain... mujhe nariyal paani peena hai." She tugged at his sleeve.

The car stopped near the vendor.

"Main leke aata hun." Sameer stepped out.

Rahul came out too, stretching his arms after the long drive. Sonali came and stood with him, leaning on his arm, looking at the hills that had started to appear in some distance.

Sameer picked up two coconuts and turned to go to give them to the girls. Naina was right behind him.

"Lao, main deti hun." She took them from him.

Sameer turned to the vendor and asked for two more.

"Nahi bhaiyya, ek hi dena." She was still behind him.

"Ek kyon? Hum dono piyenge na?" He looked at her, perplexed.

"Dono ke liye hai... ek nariyal...aur ek straw." She winked, turning to go back to the car.

Sameer watched her walk away from him... amazed... she had pulled a Sameer Maheshwari on him. Why not... she was herself a Maheshwari now... a triumphant smile spread on his face. Now his girl had started to look for romance in every small moment. He could look forward to a very interesting life.

She came back moments later. Sameer paid for three coconuts and walked to the side. There was a small cemented area, overlooking the valley. A few boulders were placed here and there for people to sit. They sat on one of them, sipping from the coconut, taking turns from the same straw, lost in each other's eyes.

The sound of car horn made them realise that the water was over long back. Putting the empty shell back, they got up to walk to the car.

"Yeh tumhara road pe sabke saamne kiss karne ka tareeka bada achha laga mujhe." he leaned and whispered in her ear.

She looked at him with wide eyes, "Maine kab kiss kiya?"

He raised one brow, "Yeh ek straw ka kya matlab tha... kiss hi toh hua na... abhi tak mehsoos kar sakta hum tumhe apne hothon pe."

He licked his lips, making Naina blush instantly.

"Arre Romeo, aa bhi jaa... kuch wahan ke liye bhi chod de." Rahul called, smiling as he leaned out from the window of his car.

Blushing profusely, Naina ran to the car.

They reached Lonavala in another forty minutes. The beauty that had started to appear on roadsides intensified many folds as they stepped out. The cool breeze was soothing, so was the greenery around. Beautiful lush, green hills visible everywhere instantly filled the air with romance.

"Yeh toh bohot sundar hai, Rahul. Yahan pakka rukenge aaj raat. Main toh hafto tak baith ke inn pahadon ko dekh sakti hun." Sonali chirped, mesmerised by the view.

"Sameer, kya bolta hai? Ruk jaayein? Kal subah breakfast karke wapas chal padenge. Tumhari party toh shaam ko hai. Aaram se pohoch jaayenge." Rahul raised a quizzical brow to sammer.

"Pakka rukenge... itni achhi jagah se kuch ghanto mein jaana bewakoofi hogi... theek hai na, Naina?" He looked at her.

She nodded... feeling a strange contentment, standing at such a beautiful place, her hand securely in Sameer's grip.